The Lonely Dream
he silence of the evening and coolness of the mist in the air left Emily
adrift in her thoughts as she sat on the old wooden swing. Even the
squeaking of the chains couldnt break into her far away conscious as she
drifted further and further into her dream.
"Hey" yelled Jim as he saw Emily jogging past his house early this fall morning. Emily Spike was always up jogging early in the mornings to begin her day. She was a very sprightly but timid young lady; but very few of her neighbors would see her unless they were up while she was jogging. Jim Lee always had an eye for Emily, but was never sure just how to approach and acquaint himself with her. He had never noticed that Emily would admire him as she ran by, keeping a fair distance so he wouldnt notice her eyes glimmering with the smile he would raise as she passed by. If only Emily could bring herself to stop and speak with Jim. If only she could bring herself out of her shell to let someone know that she was ready for new friendships. No one had been able to get very close to her since she had left her home town and moved to this Pennsylvania community about 5 years ago. But maybe enough time has gone by that Emily is ready to open up and take that first step and reach towards a new beginning.
August 5, 1928, a mild hot summer evening had fallen. Emily Spike was about to take a wild adventure with her two best friends, Gay Smith and McCalla Mick. They had been best friends all through high school, and now after graduation were going to take a vacation to the Australian Outbacks. They had been saving for two years to be able to go. Now, as the evening passed, the girls were sleeping restlessly as they waited for the early morning when they would leave to take their first flight.
Everything was going on schedule as the girls peered out the window of the plane and watched the ground slowly pass by. The excitement was building moment by moment. Whoosh, suddenly the plane started steering off course. The rumble of the right engine was growling as it burst into flames. The passengers anxiously began to quiver and shout. "What has happened" Gay cried out as she stumbled towards the isle. "I dont even see any of the stewardess to ask" McCalla calmly answered. Emily sat back and closed her eyes. All became a blur.
As she awoke in the hospital, Emily never spoke; slowly she looked bleary eyed around the room. Dr.s and nurses were moving very quickly in the bed area next to her. She continued to watch, wondering who they were with. Closing her eyes the memory came back and as she saw her friend McCally being thrown from the plane, as the impact of the crash against a group of trees in a wooded area had evenly cushioned the blow and burst the plane in half. Emily rose from her bed in frightful tears screaming, with a curdling, spine chilling tone. Running to her side, one nurse attempted to calm her cries as Emily was becoming very hysterical and the knowledge of shock could set in. Soon relaxing, Emily was able to ask about the plane and her friends. As she watched, the nurses looked at each other and the concern of non-comfort towards Emily was of no relief. "We will bring your physician here and he will be able to answer any questions you may have" sighed one nurse.
It seemed as if hours had passed before the Dr. finally came into the room. As Emily began question after question, the Dr. soon became aware of the events that had been blocked from her mind. "Emily, please be quiet for a moment. Let me see, you came from the plane crash. How do you feel right now?" asked the Dr. Emily looked deeply into his eyes replying "I just feel numb". As he watched her slow movements he could tell she was not going to give into the pain that had to be surging through her body. "Emily, you asked about your friends, McCalla and Gay". "Gay is in this bed next to you, we are praying and working very hard to keep her going. But it will be touch and go. She had some severe injuries and lost a lot of blood. We are keeping her on a life support system until she will be strong enough to breath on her own. If she awakens, there is the possibility that she may not walk. You must be strong so you will be able to help her. McCalla died at the crash. Im so sorry. Now you must think of yourself and work to get better and help your body to become stronger. I know you have been through a traumatic experience. If you would like to talk about anything, anything at all please let me know. If Im not the person you feel comfortable with we will find someone for you." The Dr. nodded his head, rose and started out the door. "Doc, will I get rid of this numbness I feel so I will be able to walk soon?" Emily asked. "Yes you will; but do not rush it as there will be a healing time for each area to enable function close to what you were use to." replied the Doc.
Within weeks Emily was out of bed and walking with the assistance of a cane. Gay had never come out of unconsciousness; so Emily stayed close to her side. Emily had become very acquainted to the tubes and wires that went in and out of Gay. She was there at every turn the aides made, and when the nurses and Dr.s came to check on Gay. Months had passed and the hospital had shut the life support off for Gay. Emily knew without the aid that Gay had little if no chance of surviving. Within a week Gay passed away. Now Emily knew it was time to go on with her life. She could not chance any of time past, and the fear of being alone overwhelmed her at times. Returning to her home town, she was greeted by all the people she had grown up around. They cheered her and inspired her to begin again and put the crash at bay. As Emily entered her bedroom, tears flooded her cheeks as she stared at all the pictures and relics of all the times Gay, McCalla, and she had spent together. The enormous burst of pain was almost to unbearable. Emily knew that she would have to leave all this if she were to ever get over her best friends deaths. Why was she the one to survive the crash while her friends died? Why was she the one who would bear the memories of the adventure that would never take place? Who had decided that crash would happen and take so many lives? How and where would she begin her new life? Bags packed, Emily walked down the road to the bus station for her new home. Her Aunt in Pennsylvania had graciously invited her to stay until she knew what she would like to do. As the bus rolled out of town, her new life would begin; only if she would confront her feelings with the event of her friends death so she could begin growing again.
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